Malawi Institution of Engineers (MIE) president Matthews Mtumbuka says while engineers have the right to celebrate milestones in their profession, there is no need for them to be complacent.
“We need to also recognise the corresponding duty bestowed upon us to continuously innovate and bring forth new inventions, new products, new technological breakthroughs and more advanced wonders of the world,” he said on Friday in Blantyre at the 2013 engineers annual dinner and dance.
Mtumbuka, speaking at the function themed, ‘An engineer: A valuable resource for development’, noted that if engineers think about the future generation and the burden of duty they shoulder to make lives of future generation better, then engineers should be a valuable resource for development.
He challenged local engineers to always think about “our call and our noble duty not really to enrich ourselves, not really to shine”, but to give out their skills and services for the enjoyment of the country.
“Hopefully, in return, we will get our proportionate measure of the reward. Of course, when we don’t get freely what belongs to us, we must demand [and] where peaceful means fail to obtain justice, forceful options become a necessary alternate,” he said to the jubilation of the engineers and their spouses.
Mtumbuka said engineers can become a true valuable resource for development if they share public result of their unique skills and special training as engineers.
He patted the MIE, a local professional body of engineers, on the back for demonstrating leadership with the launch of the strategic plan which has started bearing fruits particularly on the promotion of engineering among women and advocating engineering to secondary school girls.
Guest of honour at the function, Charles Nsaliwa, director general of the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra), observed that engineering, be it civil, electrical and mechanical is a noble profession and that its ingenuity is next to none.
“From the water we drink to the bank transactions made every day, from the transportation network to the solar panels that convert the sun’s rays into electricity, the list is endless. You have done this country proud,” he said.
Nsaliwa, therefore, challenged the engineers to engage an extra gear and open dialogue amongst themselves to assert their rightful place in Malawi.
“You have done well, but we still have gaps or opportunities to exploit. I urge you to move away from the noble gases group to the alkali metals group. I believe we have the capacity to transform this country and we owe it to ourselves as well as the next generation to leave things better than we found them,” he said.
The annual engineers’ event helps engineers to celebrate achievements at various levels.n
